U.S. patent application number 11/271781 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-18 for method for recovering underwater ecosystem of a river.
Invention is credited to Kuen Ho Choi.
Application Number | 20060104721 11/271781 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35636722 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060104721 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Choi; Kuen Ho |
May 18, 2006 |
Method for recovering underwater ecosystem of a river
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for recovering an
underwater ecosystem of a river. In particular, the method for
recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river comprises a first
step of constructing an upstream blocking wall at the same level as
the bottom of a river such that the bottom of the river is
positioned in the same line as upper surfaces of the upstream
blocking wall; a second step of constructing a downstream blocking
wall at the same level as the bottom of the river at a position
spaced apart from the upstream blocking wall by a predetermined
distance such that the bottom of the river is positioned in the
same line as an upper surface of the downstream blocking wall; and
a third step of dredging the bottom of the river in a predetermined
depth according to a planned depth of water of the river and
constructing a reservoir between the upstream and downstream
blocking walls to release various kinds of underwater organisms
suitable to regional characteristics, wherein the first to third
steps are repeated to form a plurality of pond regions along the
river. The method of the present invention further comprises a
fourth step of constructing shallow regions for water purification
between the plurality of pond regions. Therefore, there are
advantages in that the underwater ecosystem of a river can be
recovered and maintained healthily and the contamination of river
can be prevented through the improvement of natural purification
capability of the river, whereby a natural ecosystem including the
ecosystem of an existing river can be kept more healthily and the
river may be thus easily utilized as a water-friendly space.
Inventors: |
Choi; Kuen Ho; (Daejeon-Si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1950 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Family ID: |
35636722 |
Appl. No.: |
11/271781 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
405/118 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02A 20/402 20180101;
E02B 3/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/118 |
International
Class: |
E02B 5/00 20060101
E02B005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 16, 2004 |
KR |
10-2004-0093374 |
Claims
1. A method for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river,
comprising: constructing an upstream blocking wall at the same
level as the bottom of a river such that the bottom of the river is
positioned in the same line as upper surfaces of the upstream
blocking wall; constructing a downstream blocking wall at the same
level as the bottom of the river at a position spaced apart from
the upstream blocking wall by a predetermined distance such that
the bottom of the river is positioned in the same line as an upper
surface of the downstream blocking wall; and dredging the bottom of
the river to a predetermined depth according to a planned depth of
water of the river and constructing a reservoir between the
upstream and downstream blocking walls to release various kinds of
underwater organisms suitable to regional characteristics, wherein
the constructing the upstream blocking wall, the constructing the
downstream blocking wall and the dredging the bottom of the river
are repeated to form a plurality of pond regions along the river,
the method further comprising constructing shallow regions for
water purification between the plurality of pond regions.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the constructing
the upstream blocking wall, an upstream blocking wall recess is
formed between the upper surfaces of the upstream blocking wall to
allow earth and sand introduced upstream of the river to be
deposited due to difference of a specific gravity, the upper
surfaces of the upstream blocking wall are formed in a V shape to
maintain a level of water to allow at least one of big and small
fishes to migrate in a dry season, and lowermost points of the
V-shaped upper surfaces of the upstream blocking wall are
constructed to alternate with each other such that the earth and
sand introduced upstream of the river are evenly deposited in the
upstream blocking wall recess.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in an area where a
river at least one of has a steep slope and contains a lot of sand
and small gravel, at least one upstream blocking wall recess is
formed in the upper surfaces of the upstream blocking wall.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of
lowermost points of the V-shaped upper surfaces of the upstream
blocking wall are formed on the upstream blocking wall to alternate
with one another according to conditions of the river.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of the upper
surface of the upstream blocking wall is 4 to 6 meters such that
heavy machinery can be operated thereon when dredging the bottom of
the upstream blocking wall recess, a depth of the upstream blocking
wall recess is 4 to 5 meters such that the earth and sand can be
stored therein to the utmost, and a width of the upstream blocking
wall recess is 6 to 10 meters such that heavy machinery can be
operated on both sides of the upper surfaces of the upstream
blocking wall.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the V-shaped upper
surface of the upstream blocking wall is formed to have a slope of
1/100 to 5/100 from the horizontal surface such that heavy
machinery can be operated thereon.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the constructing
the downstream blocking wall, the upper surface of the downstream
blocking wall is formed in a V shape to maintain a level of water
to allow at least one of big and small fishes to migrate in a dry
season, and a width of the V-shaped upper surface of the downstream
blocking wall on which the lowermost point is formed is preferably
4 to 6 meters such that repair and maintenance by heavy machinery
can be made.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of
lowermost points of the V-shaped upper surfaces of the downstream
blocking wall are formed on the downstream blocking wall to
alternate with one another according to conditions of the
river.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the V-shaped upper
surface of the downstream blocking wall is formed to have a slope
of 1/100 to 5/100 from the horizontal surface such that heavy
machinery can be operated thereon.
10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein constructing the
reservoir comprises dredging the reservoir curvedly in various
depths of 1 to 4 meters from the bottom of the river to form the
bottom of the reservoir between the upstream and downstream
blocking walls, laying large rocks and gravel on the bottom of the
reservoir and then sporadically planting submerged plants including
at least one of Hydrilla verticillata, Vallisneria asiatica,
Potamogeton malaianus var. latifolius, Trapa japonica, Potamogeton
crispus and Myriophyllum verticillatum, constructing artificial
islands including at least one of reef and waterweed regions on the
bottom of the reservoir, curving the sides of reservoir when
dredging the bottom of the reservoir and piling up ecological
blocks and natural stones on sides of the reservoir to prevent the
earth and sand from being swept due to water flow, and sporadically
planting aquatic plants including at least one of reeds, lotus
flowers, water lilies, cattails, irises and parsley to recover the
aquatic plants damaged during the dredging.
11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the constructing
the shallow region, the shallow region becomes a natural meandering
river by alternating lowermost points formed respectively on the
upper surfaces of the upstream and downstream blocking walls and
sandbars are easily generated, a space between watersides and an
irregular bottom of the shallow region are constructed by using
natural stones with a size of at least 50 millimeters selected from
aggregates collected when constructing the reservoir, shallow ponds
are formed at some places in the middle of the shallow region, and
the shallow region is constructed in a gentle slope to ensure the
migration of a variety of underwater organisms including at least
one of big fishes, small fishes and aquatic insects.
12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the upstream and
downstream blocking walls are constructed, a slope line of a
lowermost point on the bottom of an existing river at positions
where the upstream and downstream blocking walls are to be
constructed is measured, a constructional standard horizontal line
is then set by drawing a line horizontally from a point where a
perpendicular line at a position of the downstream blocking wall
meets the slope line of the lowermost point of the bottom of the
existing river, the downstream blocking wall is constructed such
that the lowermost point of the upper surface thereof is coincident
with the set constructional standard horizontal line, a finish
region downstream of the downstream blocking wall is constructed by
piling up natural stones thereon, the upstream blocking wall is
constructed such that the lowermost points of the upper surface
thereof is coincident with the set construction standard horizontal
line, and an upstream slope of the upstream blocking wall is 1/20
to 1/50 at a finish region upstream of the upstream blocking wall
due to difference of sea level between the slope line of the
lowermost point of the bottom of the existing river and the
constructional standard horizontal line.
13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pump is further
used to pump water from an arbitrary downstream reservoir to an
arbitrary upstream reservoir such that water can flow continuously
in the river even in the dry season.
14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one pipeline
buried across an arbitrary shallow region is used to penetrate
through an arbitrary downstream blocking wall positioned at the
upstream side of the river and a neighboring upstream blocking wall
positioned at the downstream side of the river.
15. A method for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river,
comprising: constructing an upstream blocking wall at the same
level as the bottom of a river such that the bottom of the river is
positioned in the same line as upper surfaces of the upstream
blocking wall; constructing a downstream blocking wall at the same
level as the bottom of the river at a position spaced apart from
the upstream blocking wall by a predetermined distance such that
the bottom of the river is positioned in the same line as an upper
surface of the downstream blocking wall; and dredging the bottom of
the river to a predetermined depth according to a planned depth of
water of the river and constructing a reservoir between the
upstream and downstream blocking walls to release various kinds of
underwater organisms suitable to regional characteristics.
16. A method for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river,
comprising: forming an upstream blocking wall recess in which earth
and sand introduced upstream of the river are deposited using
differences of specific gravity; and constructing an upstream
blocking wall at the same level as the bottom of a river, the
upstream blocking wall including a plurality of upper surfaces
which are positioned at both sides of the upstream blocking wall
recess in the same line as the bottom of the river and have enough
width for heavy machinery to operate thereon.
17. A method for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river,
comprising: dredging the bottom of a river to a predetermined depth
according to a planned depth of water of the river and constructing
a reservoir at an arbitrary position upstream of the river to
release various kinds of underwater organisms suitable to regional
characteristics; and constructing a downstream blocking wall at the
same level as the bottom of the river at a position downstream of
the river in which the reservoir is constructed, the downstream
blocking wall including an upper surface with enough width for
heavy machinery to operate thereon for repair and maintenance.
18. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein in an area where a
river at least one of has a steep slope and contains sand and small
gravel, and at least one upstream blocking wall recess is formed in
the upper surfaces of the upstream blocking wall.
19. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a plurality of
lowermost points of the V-shaped upper surfaces of the upstream
blocking wall are formed on the upstream blocking wall to alternate
with one another according to conditions of the river.
20. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a width of the upper
surface of the upstream blocking wall is 4 to 6 meters such that
heavy machinery can be operated thereon when dredging the bottom of
the upstream blocking wall recess, a depth of the upstream blocking
wall recess is 4 to 5 meters such that the earth and sand can be
stored therein to the utmost, and a width of the upstream blocking
wall recess is 6 to 10 meters such that heavy machinery can be
operated on both sides of the upper surfaces of the upstream
blocking wall.
21. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the V-shaped upper
surface of the upstream blocking wall is formed to have a slope of
1/100 to 5/100 from the horizontal surface such that heavy
machinery can be operated thereon.
22. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein a plurality of
lowermost points of the V-shaped upper surfaces of the downstream
blocking wall are formed on the downstream blocking wall to
alternate with one another according to conditions of the
river.
23. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the V-shaped upper
surface of the downstream blocking wall is formed to have a slope
of 1/100 to 5/100 from the horizontal surface such that heavy
machinery can be operated thereon.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a method for recovering an
underwater ecosystem of a river, and more particularly, to a method
for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river, wherein a
plurality of pond regions, each of which is composed of upstream
and downstream blocking walls installed at the same height as the
bottom of the river and a reservoir constructed in a certain depth
between the upstream and downstream blocking walls, are formed and
shallow regions are then formed between the adjacent pond regions
to establish a basic environment for the restoration of underwater
ecosystem so that the underwater ecosystem can be restored from the
basic environment.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional water utilization and control method has been
developed to obtain necessary water resources. In this method,
various structures such as a multi-purpose dam, a simple concrete
dam or bank generally referred to as a small- or medium-sized dam,
and a rubber dam are installed across a river.
[0005] The aforementioned structures across a river are useful for
human beings in terms of security of water resource, power
generation and the like. However, such structures cut off water
flow, so that various kinds of fishes that have a habit to seek for
a place suitable for themselves cannot move, i.e. can be isolated,
which results in the inbreeding and thus significant decrease in
the number of fishes. In addition, the number of animals who eat
the fishes has no choice but to decrease due to the break of food
chain, thereby causing imbalance of the ecosystem.
[0006] In addition, the aforementioned structures have caused many
environmental problems due to the break and destruction of an
ecosystem. In particular, an underwater dam hinders fishes from
migrating and thus gives serious damage to an ecosystem of the
underwater life. In addition, after a certain period of time has
been elapsed, water cannot be further stored due to stones, sands
and soils carried upstream and piled up thereto, as well as the
bottom of the river are unnecessarily raised.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is conceived to solve the problems in
the prior art. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is
to provide a method for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a
river, in which deep pond regions and shallow regions are
alternately constructed in order not to cut off the waterway of
river, so that various underwater life can migrate upstream or
downstream to prevent their inbreeding, various inhabitation
environments can be constructed to keep the diversity of species,
and the ecosystem can be recovered to construct a healthy ecosystem
of a river having a good food chain.
[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention for
achieving the object, there is provided a method for recovering an
underwater ecosystem of a river, which comprises a first step of
constructing an upstream blocking wall at the same level as the
bottom of a river such that the bottom of the river is positioned
in the same line as upper surfaces of the upstream blocking wall; a
second step of constructing a downstream blocking wall at the same
level as the bottom of the river at a position spaced apart from
the upstream blocking wall by a predetermined distance such that
the bottom of the river is positioned in the same line as an upper
surface of the downstream blocking wall; and a third step of
dredging the bottom of the river in a predetermined depth according
to a planned depth of water of the river and constructing a
reservoir between the upstream and downstream blocking walls to
release various kinds of underwater organisms suitable to regional
characteristics, wherein the first to third steps are repeated to
form a plurality of pond regions along the river. The method of the
present invention further comprises a fourth step of constructing
shallow regions for water purification between the plurality of
pond regions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The above and other objects and aspects of the present
invention will become apparent from the following description of
embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing in
which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a method for recovering
an underwater ecosystem of a river according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line a-a of FIG. 1
for illustrating the configuration and operation of the method for
recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river according to the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line b-b of FIG. 1
for illustrating a downstream blocking wall for use in the method
for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river according to the
present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line c-c of FIG. 1
for illustrating an upstream blocking wall for use in the method
for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river according to the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a reference view showing a level of water of the
upstream and downstream blocking walls at a dry season when using
the method for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a reference view showing a level of water of the
upstream and downstream blocking walls at a normal season when
using the method for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a side sectional view illustrating a construction
process employed in the method for recovering an underwater
ecosystem of a river according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a side sectional view illustrating a process of
constructing shallow regions employed in the method for recovering
an underwater ecosystem of a river according to one embodiment of
the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a reference view showing a meandering river and
sandbar formed in various ways at the shallow regions of FIG.
8;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a reference view illustrating a process of
constructing an artificial island (reef) in a reservoir among the
method for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river according
to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a method for recovering
an underwater ecosystem of a river according to another embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an ideal underwater ecosystem
of a river which is pursued by the method for recovering an
underwater ecosystem of a river according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Hereinafter, a method for recovering an underwater ecosystem
according to an embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a method for recovering
an underwater ecosystem of a river according to an embodiment of
the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line
a-a of FIG. 1 for illustrating the configuration and operation of
the method for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river
according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a sectional view
taken along line b-b of FIG. 1 for illustrating a downstream
blocking wall for use in the method for recovering an underwater
ecosystem of a river according to the present invention, and FIG. 4
is a sectional view taken along line c-c of FIG. 1 for illustrating
an upstream blocking wall for use in the method for recovering an
underwater ecosystem of a river according to the present
invention.
[0024] The method for recovering an underwater ecosystem according
to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a first step of
constructing an upstream blocking wall 1 at the same level as the
bottom of a river such that the bottom of the river is positioned
in the same line as upper surfaces 2 and 3 of the upstream blocking
wall 1, a second step of constructing a downstream blocking wall 5
at the same level as the bottom of the river at a position spaced
apart from the upstream blocking wall 1 by a predetermined distance
such that the bottom of the river is positioned in the same line as
an upper surface 6 of the downstream blocking wall 5, and a third
step of dredging the bottom of the river in a predetermined depth
according to a planned depth of water of the river and constructing
a reservoir 7 between the upstream and downstream blocking walls 1
and 5 to release various kinds of underwater organisms suitable to
regional characteristics. By repeating the above processes, a
plurality of pond regions can be formed along the river.
[0025] Then, shallow regions 30 for water purification are
constructed between the plurality of pond regions (a fourth step of
the method of the present invention), whereby a basic environment
for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river can be completely
established.
[0026] Now, a process of constructing the upstream blocking wall 1
in the first step will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0027] First, the upstream blocking wall 1 is configured in such a
manner that the upper surfaces 2 and 3 are constructed at the same
level as the bottom of the river and an upstream blocking wall
recess 4 is formed between the upper surfaces 2 and 3 of the
upstream blocking wall 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, such that
earth and sand introduced upstream of the river are deposited
according to the difference of specific gravity. Further, the upper
surfaces 2 and 3 of the upstream blocking wall 1 are formed in a V
shape to maintain the level of water such that big and small fishes
can migrate in the dry season. Furthermore, the lowermost points 2a
and 3a of the V-shaped upper surfaces of the upstream blocking wall
are constructed to alternate with each other, as shown in FIGS. 1
and 4, such that the earth and sand introduced upstream are evenly
deposited in the upstream blocking wall recess 4.
[0028] Accordingly, it can be well understood that a water flow A
over the upstream blocking wall 1 has a zigzag pattern, as shown in
FIG. 1.
[0029] Further, the upstream blocking wall 1 is preferably
constructed as follows. A width of the upper surfaces 2 and 3 is 4
to 6 meters such that heavy machinery such as an excavator can be
operated thereon when dredging the earth and sand deposited in the
upstream blocking wall recess 4, a depth of the upstream blocking
wall recess 4 is 4 to 5 meters such that the earth and sand can be
stored therein to the utmost, and a width of the upstream blocking
wall recess 4 is 6 to 10 meters such that heavy machinery can be
operated on both sides of the upper surfaces 2 and 3. However,
since the conditions of a target river vary according to the
rivers, it is apparent that the above dimensions can be changed
without being limited thereto.
[0030] In addition, in an area where a river has a steep slope or
contains a lot of sands and small gravels, at least one upstream
blocking wall recess 4 may be further formed in the upper surfaces
2 and 3 of the upstream blocking wall 1, thereby effectively
preventing the earth and sand from filling up the reservoir 7.
[0031] Furthermore, the upstream blocking wall 1 may be constructed
such that one or more lowermost points 2a and 3a of the V-shaped
upper surfaces of the upstream blocking wall 1 alternates with one
another according to the conditions of the target river.
[0032] Moreover, the V-shaped upper surface of the upstream
blocking wall is preferably formed to have a slope of 1/100 to
5/100 from the horizontal surface but is not specifically limited
thereto. Any slope can be satisfied so long as the heavy machinery
can be smoothly operated on the V-shaped upper surface of the
upstream blocking wall.
[0033] Meanwhile, a process of constructing the downstream blocking
wall 5 in the second step will be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0034] First, the downstream blocking wall 5 is configured in such
a manner that the upper surface 6 is constructed at the same level
as the bottom of the river and has a V shape, as shown in FIGS. 1
to 6, to maintain the level of water such that big and small fishes
can migrate in the dry season. At this time, a width of the V
shaped upper surface 6 of the downstream blocking wall 5 on which
the lowermost point 6a is formed is preferably 4 to 6 meters such
that the repair and maintenance by heavy machinery can be made.
However, since the conditions of a target river vary according to
the rivers as in the aforementioned upper surfaces 2 and 3 of the
upstream blocking wall, it is apparent that the above dimensions
can be changed without being limited thereto.
[0035] Furthermore, the downstream blocking wall 5 may be
constructed such that one or more lowermost points 6a of the
V-shaped upper surfaces of the downstream blocking wall 5
alternates with one another according to the conditions of the
target river.
[0036] Moreover, similarly to the slope of the lowermost points 2a
and 3a of the V-shaped upper surface of the upstream blocking wall
as described above, the V-shaped upper surface of the downstream
blocking wall is preferably formed to have a slope of 1/100 to
5/100 from the horizontal surface but is not specifically limited
thereto. Any slope can be satisfied so long as the heavy machinery
can be smoothly operated on the V-shaped upper surface of the
upstream blocking wall.
[0037] FIG. 7 is a side sectional view illustrating a construction
process employed in the method for recovering an underwater
ecosystem of a river according to one embodiment of the present
invention. Now, a process of setting a constructional standard
horizontal line of the upstream and downstream blocking walls 1 and
5 and constructing the blocking walls based on the set line will be
described in detail with reference to FIG. 7.
[0038] First, a slope line 15 of lowermost points on the bottom of
the existing river at positions where the upstream and downstream
blocking walls 1 and 5 will be constructed is measured by means of
the survey.
[0039] Then, a constructional standard horizontal line 14 of the
present invention is set by drawing a line horizontally form a
point where a perpendicular line at a position of the downstream
blocking wall 5 meets the slope line 15 of the lowermost point of
the bottom of the existing river.
[0040] At this time, it is preferred that the lowermost point 6a of
the upper surface of the downstream blocking wall 5 be coincident
with the set constructional standard horizontal line 14, a finish
region 25 downstream of the downstream blocking wall be constructed
by piling up natural stones thereon, the lowermost points 2a and 3a
of the upper surface of the upstream blocking wall 1 be constructed
to alternate with each other based on the set construction standard
horizontal line 14 as shown in FIG. 4, and a slope 22 upstream of
the upstream blocking wall be 1/20 to 1/50 at a finish region 24
upstream of the upstream blocking wall due to the difference of sea
level 20 between the slope line 15 of the lowermost point of the
bottom of the existing river and the constructional standard
horizontal line 14.
[0041] A process of constructing the reservoir 7, in the third step
of the method of the present invention, between the upstream and
downstream blocking walls 1 and 5 after completing the construction
of the upstream and downstream blocking wall 1 and 5 as mentioned
above will be described in detail.
[0042] First, the reservoir 7 is a place where various kinds of
fishes inhabit and winter, and a very important place needed for
the survival of various kinds of underwater organisms. Since the
kinds of fishes living in a deep region, a shallow region, a
waterweed region and a gravelly field are different from one
another, the reservoir 7 is dredged curvedly in various depths of 1
to 4 meters from the bottom of the river between the upstream and
downstream blocking walls 1 and 5 to provide a variety of
inhabitation environments. The bottom 8 of the reservoir is formed
in this way.
[0043] At this time, after the bottom 8 of the reservoir has been
constructed as described above, large locks and gravels are laid on
the bottom 8 of the reservoir and then submerged plants such as
Hydrilla verticillata, Vallisneria asiatica, Potamogeton malaianus
var. latifolius, Trapa japonica, Potamogeton crispus and
Myriophyllum verticillatum are sporadically planted, and artificial
islands 31 are constructed on the bottom of the reservoir to have a
reef region and waterweed region, as shown in FIG. 10, to establish
a basic environment that may be spontaneously recovered.
[0044] Here, a process of constructing the artificial island (reef)
31 formed in the reservoir 7 will be explained, as follows.
[0045] The artificial island 31 is basically constructed by using
large locks or natural stones protruding from on the target river.
If there are no suitable locks or stones, oddly shaped stones or
huge stones may be used for this construction. After the artificial
island has been constructed, piles are driven into the bottom of
the reservoir and holes are then perforated into a lower portion of
the artificial island 31 after the concrete casting and the piles
are finally fitted in the holes, in order to prevent the artificial
island 31 from being swept due to a heavy rain such as a flood.
Further, in a case where the huge stones are constructed, bolts and
nuts may be used to couple the huge stones integrally with each
other.
[0046] In addition, in order to cause the reservoir 7 to be curved
during the dredging, prevent the earth and sand from being swept
due to the water flow and recover aquatic plants damaged during the
dredging, the side surface 9 of the reservoir is constructed in
such a manner that ecological blocks and natural stones are piled
up thereon and aquatic plants such as reeds, lotus flowers, water
lilies, cattails, irises and parsley are sporadically planted.
[0047] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, a water flow B in the
reservoir 7 is uniformly distributed due to the lowermost points 3a
and 6a of the upper surfaces of the upstream and downstream
blocking walls which are respectively formed to alternate with each
other on the upper surfaces 3 and 6 of the upstream and downstream
blocking walls, so that the water flows diagonally in the
reservoir.
[0048] FIG. 5 is a reference view showing a water level of the
upstream and downstream blocking walls at the dry season when using
the method for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river
according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this
figure, the level of water 12 of upstream and downstream blocking
walls 1 and 5 at which fishes can freely migrate even in the dry
season is shown. FIG. 6 is a reference view showing a level of
water of the upstream and downstream blocking walls at the normal
season when using the method for recovering an underwater ecosystem
of a river according to one embodiment of the present invention. In
this figure, it is shown that the levels of water are different at
the lowermost point and edges when water flows over the V-shaped
upper surface such that small fishes can freely migrate upstream
and downstream through the edges 13 where the water flow is not
strong.
[0049] By constructing the upstream blocking wall 1, the downstream
blocking wall 5 and the reservoir 7 as described above, one pond
region is formed. In the present invention, a plurality of the pond
regions are formed according to the conditions and characteristics
of a target river.
[0050] Meanwhile, a process of constructing the shallow regions 30
between the pond regions as stated in the fourth step will be
explained in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0051] FIG. 8 is a side sectional view illustrating a process of
constructing shallow regions employed in the method for recovering
an underwater ecosystem of a river according to one embodiment of
the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a reference view showing a
meandering river and sandbar formed in various ways at the shallow
regions of FIG. 8.
[0052] The shallow region 30 between the pond regions is
constructed in such a manner that it becomes a natural meandering
river by means of the alternating lowermost points 3a and 6a formed
respectively on the upper surfaces 3 and 6 of the upstream and
downstream blocking walls 5 and 6 and the sandbars are also easily
generated.
[0053] In addition, the waterside (river bed) 10 is constructed by
using natural stones with a size of 50 millimeters or more selected
from aggregates collected when constructing the reservoir 7. An
irregular bottom of the shallow region 30 is also preferably
constructed by using natural stones with a size of 50 millimeters
or more selected from the aggregates collected while constructing
the reservoir 7. In addition, shallow ponds are formed at some
places in the middle of the shallow region 30. Furthermore, the
shallow region 30 is preferably constructed in a gentle slope in
order to ensure the migration of a variety of underwater organisms
such as big or small fishes and aquatic insects.
[0054] The wavy meandering river in the shallow region 30 is one of
main factors for supplying oxygen to the river, and the sandbar
also provides a place where a variety of underwater plants can be
reared. Further, if the underwater plants grow up affluently, they
become places where birds and mammals inhabit and shelter or places
where aquatic insects are working, resting and hiding, whereby the
food chain is formed again.
[0055] In addition, a variety of multiple meandering rivers can be
naturally constructed in the shallow region 30 according to the
number of the alternating lowermost points 3a and 6a formed
respectively on the upper surfaces 3 and 6 of the upstream and
downstream blocking walls. Moreover, shallow ponds may be
constructed at some places in the middle of the shallow
regions.
[0056] Furthermore, sandbars are naturally generated when a river
becomes a meandering river (particularly, after a flood), and they
are repeatedly created and vanished. Thus, any artificial
construction of sandbars may cause disturbance to the river,
thereby giving serious burdens on the ecosystem. In this respect,
since the present invention allows the sandbars to be created
and/or vanished under the charge of the nature after the
construction thereof, the destruction of the ecosystem due to the
disturbance of the river caused by the shallow region 30 can be
prevented.
[0057] FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a method for recovering
an underwater ecosystem of a river according to another embodiment
of the present invention.
[0058] In this embodiment, water can be pumped from an arbitrary
downstream reservoir to an arbitrary upstream reservoir by using a
pump 40 and pump line 41 even in the dry season when water flow is
not smooth in the river, so that the water can flow smoothly and
continuously in the river. Accordingly, the underwater ecosystem of
a river can be maintained even in the dry season by using the
method for recovering the ecosystem according to the present
invention.
[0059] Alternatively, the method for recovering an underwater
ecosystem of a river according to this embodiment of the present
invention can use at least one pipeline (not shown), in the dry
season, which is buried across an arbitrary shallow region 30 to
penetrate through an arbitrary downstream blocking wall 5
positioned at the upstream side of the river and a neighboring
upstream blocking wall 1 positioned at the downstream side of the
river.
[0060] Here, both ends of the pipeline may be further provided with
an opening/closing means that can be automatically opened or closed
by means of the manipulation of an operator.
[0061] This configuration is very useful in the dry season, because
water may be pumped up through the pipeline even when there is no
fresh water in a reservoir 7 formed at the downstream side of an
arbitrary upstream blocking wall 1.
[0062] FIG. 12 is a reference diagram showing an ideal underwater
ecosystem of a river which is pursued by the method for recovering
an underwater ecosystem of a river according to the embodiment of
the present invention.
[0063] According to the present invention as described above, the
shallow regions 30 are formed between a plurality of the pond
regions each of which includes the upstream blocking wall 1, the
downstream blocking wall 5 and the reservoir 7, so that a basic
environment needed for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a
river can be established, the ecosystem of the river can be
naturally recovered and maintained healthy based on the basic
environment, and the natural ecosystem connected through the food
chain to an existing river can also be recovered healthily.
[0064] Meanwhile, the method for recovering an underwater ecosystem
of a river according to the present invention may be modified in
various ways depending on the topography, characteristics and
development plans of the river. Hereinafter, the method for
recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river according to a
modified embodiment of the present invention will be explained.
However, the same components as in the method for recovering an
underwater ecosystem of a river according to the previous
embodiment of the present invention are designated by the same
reference numerals, and repeated and unnecessary descriptions on
the same components will be omitted herein.
[0065] First, in a method for recovering an underwater ecosystem of
a river according to a first modified embodiment of the present
invention, only one pond region is constructed using the method for
recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river according to the
previous embodiment of the present invention, depending on the
topography, characteristics and development plans of a river. The
method for recovering an underwater ecosystem according to the
first modified embodiment of the present invention comprises a
first step of constructing an upstream blocking wall 1 at the same
level as the bottom of a river such that the bottom of the river is
positioned in the same line as upper surfaces 2 and 3 of the
upstream blocking wall 1, a second step of constructing a
downstream blocking wall 5 at the same level as the bottom of the
river at a position spaced apart from the upstream blocking wall 1
by a predetermined distance such that the bottom of the river is
positioned in the same line as an upper surface 6 of the downstream
blocking wall 5, and a third step of constructing a reservoir 7
between the upstream and downstream blocking walls 1 and 5 in a
predetermined depth according to a planned depth of water of the
river in order to release various kinds of underwater organisms
suitable to regional characteristics.
[0066] Further, a method for recovering an underwater ecosystem of
a river according to a second modified embodiment of the present
invention comprises the steps of forming an upstream blocking wall
recess 4 in which the earth and sand introduced upstream of the
river are deposited by means of its difference of a specific
gravity, depending on the topography, characteristics and
development plans of a river; and constructing only an upstream
blocking wall 1 at the same level as the bottom of a river wherein
the upstream blocking wall 1 includes one or more upper surfaces 2
and 3 which are positioned at both sides of the recess 4 in the
same line as the bottom of the river and have enough width for
heavy machinery to operate thereon during the dredging.
[0067] Furthermore, in a method for recovering an underwater
ecosystem of a river according to a third modified embodiment of
the present invention, an upstream blocking wall 1 is removed from
one pond region constructed using the method for recovering an
underwater ecosystem of a river according to the previous
embodiment of the present invention, depending on the topography,
characteristics and development plans of a river. The method for
recovering an underwater ecosystem according to the third modified
embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of dredging
the bottom of the river in a predetermined depth according to a
planned depth of water of the river and constructing a reservoir 7
at an arbitrary position upstream of the river in order to release
various kinds of underwater organisms suitable to regional
characteristics; and constructing a downstream blocking wall 5 at
the same level as the bottom of the river at a position downstream
of the river in which the reservoir 7 is constructed, wherein the
downstream blocking wall 5 includes an upper surface 6 with enough
width for heavy machinery to operate thereon for the repair and
maintenance.
[0068] The method for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a river
according to the present invention as described above is not
limited to the above modified embodiments, but one or more
combinations of the modified embodiments can be applied to the
present invention in various ways without departing from the
technical spirit of the invention, depending on the topography,
characteristics and development plans of a river.
[0069] In the method for recovering an underwater ecosystem of a
river according to the present invention as described above, a
plurality of pond regions, each of which is composed of upstream
and downstream blocking walls installed at the same height as the
bottom of the river and a reservoir constructed in a certain depth
between the upstream and downstream blocking walls, are formed and
shallow regions are then formed between the adjacent pond regions
to establish a basic environment for the restoration of underwater
ecosystem such that the underwater ecosystem can be restored from
the basic environment. Therefore, there are advantages in that the
underwater ecosystem of a river can be recovered and maintained
healthily and the contamination of river can be prevented through
the improvement of natural purification capability of the river,
whereby a natural ecosystem including the ecosystem of an existing
river can be kept more healthily and the river may be thus easily
utilized as a water-friendly space.
[0070] Further, since the depth of water is kept constantly in a
state where a waterway is not interrupted and various kinds of
fishes can freely migrate upstream and downstream along the
waterway, the interbreeding of the fishes is prevented and thus the
fishes are abundant in the river. Further, animals connected to the
fishes through the food chain can flourish, and thus, the ecosystem
can be maintained stably.
[0071] Furthermore, since a large amount of water can be stored in
the bottom of the river, the water can be used to do farming in the
dry season. Moreover, since the structures constructed by the
present invention are installed at the same level as the bottom of
a river, they do not hinder the water flow during a flood such that
the river does not overflow.
[0072] In addition, the structures constructed by the method of the
present invention can be may be easily repaired, maintained and
managed, and thus, the relevant maintenance costs cam be
reduced.
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